How To Use The S.M.A.R.T Method To Have An Effective Routine By Tomorrow Morning
There Are 320 Mornings Left In 2022. What Will You Do With Them?
What do you do with the first hour(s) of your day? The first hours of our days are precious.
Did you know that 80% of smartphone owners check their phones within 15 minutes of waking up each morning? It’s something I’ve personally wrestled with for a long time. We get to the point it’s become more than a bad habit. It’s become instinct.
To begin our days consuming, doom scrolling social media, checking emails, etc leaves us at the whim of the world’s algorithm.
By the grace of God, this month I’ve committed myself to not touching/using my phone until I’ve prayed and read. That is my morning routine. If I do nothing else I will feel accomplished. Do with your morning as you wish but do it intentionally.
Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,
for in you I trust.
Make me know the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.Psalm 143:8
If we want to win the day we need to win the morning.
The S.M.A.R.T method is commonly used to set goals but I find it’s a helpful framework to gain clarity for habits you want to create.
🎯Specific
What will you do?
You have the freedom of choice. But choice can sometimes overwhelm us. The more specific you can get the better.
Prayer/Devotional Time, Exercise, Shower, Reading, Writing, Planning, Journaling, Tea/coffee/smoothie, Practice a hobby/passion
📐Measurable
Track the progress you experience with your routine.
Here are some ways:
Use good ol’ check-boxes
Journal your struggles, wins, pivots, progress
You can use apps (I use a habit tracker app called Done)
🪤Acheivable
We all can’t have morning routines like Mark Walhberg, which he starts at 2:30am. Set out to accomplish 1–3 things each morning. Incorporate small wins as a boost of motivation to gain momentum. We can easily set unrealistic expections and take on too much.
“If you want to make a difference in the world, start by making your bed.” -Admiral William H. McRaven
📰Relevant
This is the foundation to your routine. Know your “why”. You shouldn’t adapt a morning routine just because it’s all the rage with the cool kids. What is the purpose for your routine? This routine should be unique for your needs, wants, goals. What do you want to devote the first-fruits of your day to? It’s important to change our mindset from aiming to be productive to filling your cup.
⏲Time Bound
This is a morning routine after all. This should be the string of actions you do to begin your day. The question is when will you begin? What time will you wake up? How much time do you need? You may not know how long you’ll need. Try tracking how long you take during week 1 with a stop watch. Brevity is key. You don’t need a long time to have an effective time.
Question: What does your current morning routine look like?
I hope you found this to be helpful! I’ll see ya’ll on Friday for the Friday Tasting Menu.
Happy Sandwiches 🥪